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CHARLES F. SPENCER, CF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

' Leam Patent No. 68,319, dazed August 27, 18er.

IMPROVEMENT IN FRUIT-JARS. l

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T0 ALL WI-IOM I'I MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. SPENCER, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe, and State of New York,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit, Jelly, andother Jars; and I do hereby declare that the following is a. full and exact description thereof, reference beinl Vhad to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

Figure I is a central vertical section of my improved fruit-jar.

Figure 2, a perspective view with the cover raised from the top of' the jar.

Figures 3 and 4, views showing modifications of the invention.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

My invention consists in covering or stopping the mouth of a fruit-jar by a cover or stopper gummed or otherwise equivalently prepared, so as to be self-scaling and self-retaining when applied, by reason of the heat melting the gum which adheres to the jar; also in a paper or equivalent cover or stopper, applicable to the mouth of a fruit-jar in such amanner that it may be cut away in opening thejar; and finally, in a i'lap forming a. valve, -made of gummed paper, applied on top the cover or stopper so as to be stuck down over the vent when thc cover or stopper is applied.

As represented in the drawings, A is the jar, and B the cover or stopper which is applied to the mouth. I prefer to apply the cover inthe form of an inverted cup over'the outside of' the top of thejar, as shown in figs. 1 and 2; but if desired, it may be made in the form of a stopper fitting in the mouth, as shown in iig. 4. I prefer to make the cover or stopper of paper, as it is cheaper than any other material. Any equivalent, however, may be employed. After being formed, the covers are dipped or covered with some gummy substance, such, for instance, as a preparation of lac or resin. I prefer to dip the articles and then invert them, which allows the gum to settle down to the bottom of the Hange, the point where it is most needed to become self-adhesive when applied to the jar. In order to make the covers take up or absorb as little of the gum as possible, they may previously be dipped in some cheap material that will fill the pores, or the paperl may be manufactured with somematerial mixed with the pulp that will make it air-tight. I prefer to make a small vent-hole through the top of the cover or stopper, to allow the air to escape from the jar as the said stopper or cover is pressed down. ToY stop this vent I gum a small Hap, d, of manille. or other strongjr paper, and stick it to the cover or stopper on one side the vent, and when the air has vescaped this flap is simply stuck down over the hole.

The'method of sealing will be readily understood. The cover or stopper is simply applied to the mouth of the hotjar, which melts the gum and causes it to adhere both to the jar and cover, and. thus makes it selfsealing. As the jar cools the atmospheric pressure forces it down on its seat, and when the gum cools it is airtight. If it is desired to employ only a thin cover, an extra thickness,l b, iig. 3, may be applied under it, on top the jar, which will prevent any collapse. 4

A The great advantage of this arrangement consists in its cheapness, while 'at the same time it is self-sealing. A disk of prepared paper has before been employed, covering a vent in a can,.but held down by a wedge. Such is not the equivalent of my invention, which is not only self-sealing but self-retaining.

By the employment of paper or equivalent flexible material for the covers or Stoppers, the same can be readily cut from the top of the jar when it is desired to open it. This is a matter of much importance, for ordinary covers are dificult to remove owing to the pressure of the atmosphere. i

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A ready-formed cover or stopper for fruit, jelly, and other cans, made of paper, cloth,- or other easily penctrable material, prepared so as to be air-tight, and having its surface provided with gum or other adhesive substance, so as to be self-attaching, self-sealing, and self-retaining, substantially as and for the purposes herein specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses this 13th day of July, 1867.

CIIAS. F. SPENCER.

Witnesses s It. F. Oscoop.

J. A. Davis. 

